After I Died, My Childhood Friend Became Daddy - Chapter 2

Chapter 2: Childhood Friend Hits the Jackpot! He Can Keep Acting Forever

The fourth floor was a vast open-plan space with floor-to-ceiling windows.

There were all kinds of gaming equipment here. Huo Yan explained to him, “I’m usually quite busy, and I don’t understand much about gaming, but I arranged for professionals to regularly update the equipment here. These are all the latest models.”

Fang Ran was already dizzy from this string of surprises.

This… one wouldn’t even dare to dream this big.

In the blink of an eye, he didn’t have to take the College Entrance Examination or do test papers anymore; he had ascended straight to heaven to live a life of “lying flat” (leisure)?!

He couldn’t help but ask in a low voice, “But at the police station, they said I had been reported missing for ten years. I see this villa is very new… why is there a room for me here?”

Yes.

Why?

When Huo Yan had someone design the blueprints, his mind was filled entirely with Ranran’s preferences. Ranran liked playing games, Ranran liked singing…

After a pause, he gave a very faint smile.

“Perhaps it’s because I always felt that you would come back sooner or later.”

Fang Ran was slightly stunned. “A-Yan…”

But Huo Yan’s melancholy lasted only a moment. He quickly smiled again. “You must be hungry. Let’s go eat something first.”

“Okay.”

Huo Yan had instructed Liu Ma to prepare a meal as soon as he brought Fang Ran back. He casually listed several dishes, all of which were Fang Ran’s favorites.

Liu Ma’s excellent cooking skills finally had a place to be used.

She was quick and nimble, and in a short while, she brought out several dishes, while silently observing the youth Master Huo had brought back.

She had worked here for several years and had never seen Master Huo treat anyone this well. Could it be a younger relative from his family?

However, regarding the master’s business, Liu Ma didn’t dare ask much. She arranged the plates and went back to the kitchen. Seeing that the youth wasn’t very old, she thought he might like sweets, so she prepared to bake two small cakes.

Liu Ma’s guess was spot on.

Fang Ran had loved sweets since he was a child, but he had a bad toothache once in middle school. Since then, Huo Yan had managed him quite strictly; every day, Huo Yan would check his schoolbag to ensure no hidden candies were stashed away.

Gnawing on sweet and sour pork ribs coated in sesame seeds, Fang Ran felt so happy he was about to ascend. “So delicious…”

High school was a boarding school, and he ate three meals a day in the school cafeteria. One could imagine how those tasted.

Huo Yan sat opposite Fang Ran, picking out fish bones and placing the fish meat onto his plate.

The youth gnawed on the ribs, his mouth moving rhythmically, his corners stained with sauce.

Huo Yan’s dark gaze fell upon them, his Adam’s apple rolled slightly, and then he pulled out a tissue and leaned over.

Fang Ran was eating heartily when the man suddenly leaned in close. A faint scent of peppermint wafted over, making his body stiffen. The next second, he saw Huo Yan naturally using the tissue to wipe the corners of his mouth. “Eat slowly, no rush.”

Whether it was intentional or not, Huo Yan’s fingers brushed across Fang Ran’s lips, seemingly touching them gently.

Fang Ran was simple-minded and didn’t notice; his mind was full of how fragrant and delicious the ribs were.

Huo Yan retracted his hand nonchalantly, his fingers twitching slightly as if the soft sensation of Ranran’s lips still lingered on them.

Fang Ran was truly hungry. From the moment he was mysteriously kidnapped until now, he hadn’t eaten a bite. He buried his head and swept through the meal like a whirlwind, finishing everything until he was almost too full to stand up.

After struggling to move from the dining table to the sofa in the living room, he couldn’t help but lean toward Huo Yan, like a fearless little beast exposing its belly without any defense.

“A-Yan, rub it for me.”

Fang Ran had no self-control when eating; once he found something to his taste, he couldn’t stop, so he often got bloated. Huo Yan had learned some techniques from a Traditional Chinese Medicine clinic near their school, helping Fang Ran rub his stomach whenever he felt uncomfortable from overeating.

Fang Ran’s movements were natural, his tone familiar.

After all, in his view, Huo Yan was his good buddy and childhood friend; they had only been apart for a few hours.

But Huo Yan stiffened slightly.

It had been a full ten years since he last heard Ranran act spoiled. It felt as if he closed his eyes, he could hear the heart in his chest thumping violently, his long-cooled blood boiling once again.

Not noticing Huo Yan’s abnormality, Fang Ran had already lain down directly, patting his belly. “Hands on, A-Yan.”

Huo Yan’s dark eyes stared at him for a few seconds, then he seemed to smile. He slowly reached out his hand and pressed it gently against the youth’s lower abdomen.

This place was flat just moments ago, but because he ate too much, it was slightly bulging, the curve not very obvious.

So delicate; crying of being full over just this much.

Huo Yan inevitably thought of things from their childhood. Ranran had indeed always been delicate. In the orphanage, with many children, bumps and bruises were inevitable, but once Ranran got hit anywhere, the first thing he did was look for Huo Yan.

Once, he accidentally pinched his finger. He immediately held it up and went frantically to find Huo Yan. By the time Huo Yan saw it, it wasn’t even red anymore. Huo Yan found it funny, but he still seriously blew on it for Fang Ran.

With a Ranran this delicate, Huo Yan didn’t dare imagine how scared he was when he was kidnapped, or how much it hurt when he was hit by the truck.

Thankfully.

Thankfully, his Ranran had returned to his side.

It didn’t matter; what was in the past was in the past. He would look after Ranran well; Ranran would be by his side forever.

After rubbing for only a few minutes, the breathing of the person lying on his lap gradually became rhythmic. It seemed he had fallen into a deep sleep.

Huo Yan’s gaze darkened. A few seconds later, he lowered his head and kissed Fang Ran lightly on the forehead.

Suddenly, footsteps came from behind.

Huo Yan was like a predator interrupted while eating. He glanced over with displeasure, his cold eyes making Liu Ma freeze in place.

After a few seconds of silence, Huo Yan withdrew his gaze and straightened up as if nothing happened, though he still held Fang Ran tightly.

Liu Ma couldn’t stay, yet couldn’t leave. After a moment of hesitation, she walked over and placed the small cakes on the glass table nearby.

Just as she was about to turn and leave, she suddenly heard the Master ask in a very soft voice, “Can you see him?”

What??

Liu Ma was startled. She turned around and saw the Master holding the youth with gentle movements, looking up at her. His pitch-black eyes stared intensely as he repeated in a flat tone, “Can you see him?”

In an instant, Liu Ma felt the hair on her body stand on end.

Huo Yan’s face had no expression; it didn’t seem like a joke. He asked this question with absolute seriousness.

Liu Ma swallowed hard, her voice trembling slightly. “Of course, of course I can see him.”

Huo Yan smiled.

Having worked here for so many years, she had almost never seen the Master smile like this. It wasn’t sarcastic; he just seemed genuinely happy, smiling ever so slightly.

Liu Ma didn’t dare stay any longer and hurried away.

…

Fang Ran didn’t sleep for very long, just a short nap. When he rubbed his eyes and woke up, he found he was actually still sleeping in Huo Yan’s arms.

He scrambled up. “Have I been using you as a pillow the whole time? Are your legs numb from me pressing on them?”

Fang Ran instinctively reached out to massage Huo Yan’s thigh, but the next second, his wrist was firmly caught by Huo Yan.

The man seemed to take a deep breath before speaking. “Not numb.”

His voice was a bit raspy.

“Go upstairs and change your clothes.”

As Huo Yan spoke, his movements didn’t stop, his hand slowly stroking the youth’s wrist as if to mark his territory.

“We are going to the hospital to give you a physical exam.”

Fang Ran wanted to say he didn’t feel any discomfort, but then he thought that since he had traveled from ten years ago, there might be some internal injuries. It was better to check just to be safe.

He nodded. “Are there clothes for me here?”

“Of course there are.”

Next to Fang Ran’s bedroom was the dressing room. The space was huge, with several rows of floor-to-ceiling wardrobes. Opening the cabinets, row after row were all the latest seasonal fashions.

Not just clothes—opening the drawers nearby, there were new underwear and socks prepared. In the transparent glass cabinets on the other side, there were even accessories, watches, and tie clips.

The doubt in Fang Ran’s heart grew larger. He haphazardly changed into some clothes and hurriedly pushed the door open.

Huo Yan was waiting at the door. Seeing him come out, he naturally adjusted his collar. “I guessed the size would be about this; it fits as expected.”

Before Fang Ran could ask, he explained, “Every year, I have someone deliver the latest clothes for the season according to your size.”

Fang Ran instinctively asked, “Then what about the old ones? Don’t let them go to waste.”

“They are sent to the orphanage. They won’t go to waste.”

Fang Ran put on a pair of sneakers. They were a co-branded limited edition currently being scalped for six figures, yet they were the most ordinary pair in the closet.

The shoelaces weren’t tied properly. Huo Yan knelt down to re-tie them for him. When he stood up again, he saw Fang Ran looking at him with teary eyes.

“Ran…”

Before he could finish a word, Fang Ran jumped up and hugged him tightly, looping his arms around the man’s neck.

“Waaaah, good brother! You said before that you wouldn’t forget me if you got rich, and it’s actually true!!”

Huo Yan: “…”

He closed his eyes. After two seconds, his two hands found their destination with unerring accuracy, propping directly against Fang Ran’s buttocks.

One hand on each side, just right.

Fang Ran stared at him with wide eyes.

Their eyes met. Finally, Huo Yan spoke first. “Afraid you’d fall off.”

Fang Ran felt a bit awkward.

Who could get used to someone touching their butt like this?

He often jumped on Huo Yan like this to hug his neck, but every time before, Huo Yan would have a stern face and pull him off.

Fang Ran moved, wanting to get down, but Huo Yan didn’t let go; he gripped even tighter.

After struggling a few times, Fang Ran finally became “petitely” angry. “Let me down!”

Huo Yan released his grip, looking as if he had just realized what he was doing. “Sorry.”

Fang Ran felt a bit awkward and thought he was making a mountain out of a molehill. He huffed twice and said nothing more.

The hospital wasn’t far from the villa, only a ten-minute drive away.

After walking in, Fang Ran looked around. “Is this hospital about to go bankrupt? Why aren’t there any patients?”

“It’s a private hospital under my name. It’s usually only open to the internal members of the group.”

Huo Yan raised a hand to brush Fang Ran’s hair. “I specifically had them clear it out this afternoon to give you a check-up.”

Fang Ran once again updated his worldview regarding his childhood friend’s wealth.

“There’s no need to be so solemn.”

Huo Yan’s tone was calm. “Your health is naturally very important.”

Next was a full set of physical examinations. Fang Ran was manipulated like a puppet. Every time a test result came out, it was rushed to Huo Yan’s hands as fast as possible.

By the time the last item was finished, the sky outside was pitch black. Fang Ran saw Huo Yan sitting on a chair, looking through the test reports with a grim face.

He was startled. “Is there really something wrong with me?”

“No major issues, but there’s a bruise on your waist. How did that happen? Are there any other spots on your body?”

Fang Ran touched his waist. “No, this must have been an accidental bump. It doesn’t even hurt.”

Huo Yan still looked uneasy, his brows furrowed. He put down the reports and made a final decision. “I’ll help you bathe tonight.”

He would take the opportunity to see if there were any other injuries on Ranran’s body.

Fang Ran: “…Huh???”

Two boys bathing together was nothing, especially for Fang Ran and Huo Yan, who had grown up together since they were toddlers and had bathed in public baths many times.

But…

The current Huo Yan was not the Huo Yan of ten years ago.

Water splashed down from the showerhead. Fang Ran was drenched like a scruffy puppy, but he was staring intently at Huo Yan.

“My god… you’ve trained your body this well?”

Fang Ran couldn’t resist reaching out to touch him.

He hadn’t felt it through the clothes before, but Huo Yan’s chest muscles were actually this large. Droplets of water slid down, from the chest to the abs, and then to the bulging veins…

o.O!

Fang Ran was shocked. “Does… does this part grow too?”

Although Huo Yan’s had always been larger than his, it shouldn’t be this exaggerated. Fang Ran looked at his friend’s, then looked down at his own, letting out a whine.

“It’s fine that you grew taller over these ten years, but why did it grow as well!”

Huo Yan curled his lips, neither confirming nor denying.

Fang Ran [Seal patting belly]: “I have nothing.”

What kind of good physique would you expect from a high school student who sat in a classroom doing practice problems every day? Fang Ran was thin and fair, but his lower belly looked soft and squishy, with no sign of becoming six-pack abs.

“No way! I want to go to the gym too!”

Fang Ran thought Huo Yan had built this body by spending every day in the gym. He didn’t know that during the years he was missing, Huo Yan practiced Sanda, boxing, and free combat… After all, Huo Yan had survived seven or eight assassination attempts alone.

“Sure, there’s a gym upstairs.”

Huo Yan paused and then quickly added, “But you are fine just as you are now.”

Fang Ran was ambitious. “I want to train to have a body like yours too!”

Huo Yan said no more, patted Fang Ran’s shoulder to make him turn around, and applied soap to him.

The body wash was peppermint-scented, feeling similar to the scent on Huo Yan. Fang Ran sniffed it a few times.

The man’s palm pressed against Fang Ran’s shoulder blade, stroking slowly through a layer of soft foam.

Ranran is still too thin, Huo Yan thought; he should be raised to be a bit chubbier. His gaze stared darkly at the thin back before him, wanting desperately to kiss it recklessly and leave a string of burning hickeys.

Fang Ran was very thin, his back dimples obvious. Further down were his round buttocks. Every time he sat doing problems for too long, he would jump up from the chair. “No more, my butt is dead!”

Huo Yan knew he was making excuses because he didn’t want to do the problems, but every time, he couldn’t stop his gaze from falling behind the youth.

Pinching his pen, his tone was light, as if joking. “What? Want me to rub it for you?”

Fang Ran thought he was joking and laughed heartily. “Come on, do it!”

Huo Yan averted his gaze and stopped speaking.

Every time Ranran invited him, he remembered it. He would make Ranran pay it back with interest.

After the bath, Huo Yan wrapped Fang Ran in a large towel and dried him carefully. Fang Ran kept trying to run away, but Huo Yan forcibly held him down. “Haven’t dried your hair yet.”

Fang Ran shook his head wildly, splattering water droplets all over Huo Yan’s face.

“It’s dry!”

“…” Like a puppy.

Huo Yan didn’t bother arguing with him and pressed him directly into a chair. The buzzing of the hairdryer started, and the man’s hand gently ran through his hair.

Fang Ran blinked, looking into the mirror. The man stood behind him, eyes slightly lowered, looking very serious.

His lips moved, as if he said something.

Huo Yan didn’t hear clearly. He turned off the hairdryer. “What did you say?”

Fang Ran smiled. “I said you haven’t changed at all.”

Huo Yan looked quietly at Fang Ran in the mirror. “Is that so?”

The only person who thought he hadn’t changed was likely only Ranran.

It didn’t matter.

As long as Ranran was by his side.

He could keep acting forever.

Putting away the hairdryer, Huo Yan patted Fang Ran’s shoulder. “Go to bed, I’ll apply the medicine for you.”

Fang Ran didn’t think much of it. “There’s no need, it’s just a bump on the waist.” He had looked in the bathroom; there were no other injuries.

Huo Yan looked at him firmly.

Fang Ran finally obeyed, sitting on the bed and rolling up his pajama top a bit to let Huo Yan apply the medicine.

Anyway, it had been like this since they were kids.

Huo Yan indulged him most of the time, but as soon as he went silent and stared quietly at Fang Ran, it meant there was no room for negotiation.

Before bed, Huo Yan handed Fang Ran a glass of warm milk.

Fang Ran said “Wow!” “Haven’t had this in a long time.”

Whether it was lactose intolerance or something else, Fang Ran had this issue since childhood: after drinking milk before bed, he would sleep very soundly all night, not even waking up to thunder or explosions.

After starting high school, he didn’t dare drink it anymore, fearing he wouldn’t be able to wake up for morning study.

Huo Yan said gently, “Sleep better.”

Fang Ran took the glass and tilted his head back, drinking it all in one go.

He said happily, “No need to wake up early for class tomorrow.”

Huo Yan took the glass, tucked Fang Ran in, and turned off the light.

In the darkness, his voice was very light. “Goodnight, sweet dreams.”

A few seconds later, the sound of the door clicking shut rang out.

Huo Yan had left.

Fang Ran rolled over, feeling that the bedroom was still too large and the curtains were too light-blocking it was virtually pitch black, with everything around him a dark void.

However, it was very conducive to sleep.

After a long day of tossing and turning, and under the effect of the milk, Fang Ran soon fell into a deep sleep.

And at this moment, at the bedroom door, a dark shadow stood there quietly.

Huo Yan was like a predator with immense patience.

Standing quietly in the dark, waiting for his prey to let down its guard.

The sound of breathing grew steady.

Huo Yan finally made a move. He walked slowly, step by step, toward the bedside.

Fang Ran never slept neatly; even though the quilt had just been tucked in, he kicked his legs out again, rolled over, his pajama top riding up to expose his lower belly.

The man stared at him for a long while, then knelt on one knee by the bed. He leaned over slightly and buried his face in Fang Ran’s lower belly, kissing it gently.

So obedient, baby.

Huo Yan hadn’t taken his medicine tonight, and his spirit had reached a state of extreme excitement. He didn’t just want to kiss; he wanted to lick, he wanted to bite.

He wanted to leave his marks and his scent all over Fang Ran.

Huo Yan’s breathing gradually grew heavy. His trembling, burning kisses followed Fang Ran’s lower belly all the way down.